Kagaya Ubuyashiki sat on his tatami mat, staring at the bottle of vividly green liquid on the table before him. His expression could only be described as conflicted.
To put it bluntly, the appearance of the liquid was... unsettling.
Horitake approached and sat down beside Kagaya with his usual lack of formality. He didn't bother with a formal greeting—everyone here was a close friend, and more importantly, his entire attention had been seized by the glowing contents of that bottle.
Pointing at the neon-green concoction, Horitake couldn't help but ask, "Shinobu-san, Master... is this 'it'?"
Shinobu Kochou nodded, a serene smile on her face. "Indeed. This is the very first successful batch of the Life Supplement Potion I've managed to produce."
Beside her, Kagaya remained silent, though the look on his face grew even more complicated.
Feeling the awkwardness in the air, Horitake scratched his head and offered a dry laugh. "Well, it certainly lives up to the name 'Life Supplement.' I mean, look at that color! It looks... incredibly healthy. It practically screams 'vitality' and 'hope,' doesn't it? Uh... Shinobu-san, are you absolutely sure there's nothing wrong with this batch?"
Shinobu gave Horitake a subtle, sidelong glare. Her tone remained firm. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. This is the result of countless failures. It is a perfect success."
Kagaya, sitting at the head of the table, finally broke his silence. He turned to Horitake. "Horitake, you provided the recipe for this potion, correct? Did the original text mention what the color, scent, or consistency should be once it was finished?"
A cold sweat broke out on Horitake's brow. "Well... the recipe did specify it would be a liquid and that it wouldn't have any strange or pungent odors. As for the color... the text didn't actually say. This green does look a bit intense, I'll admit. But if you think about it, green is the color of nature, right? It symbolizes life itself. So, logically, the color should be fine."
Kagaya shot him a look of profound doubt. "Is it really fine?"
Horitake paused to think for a moment before answering with forced conviction. "It's fine, Master. Shinobu-san and I have spent a long time researching this formula. Even if the batch isn't 100% perfect, it certainly won't be harmful. Master... would you like to give it a try?"
The trap was laid. The moment of truth had arrived.
From the beginning, Horitake and Shinobu had secretly agreed: once the Life Supplement Potion was finally refined, Kagaya would be their first test subject.
Horitake's arrival at the estate couldn't have been timed more perfectly. Since he was here, he might as well join Shinobu in "encouraging" the Master to take the plunge.
Kagaya looked troubled. He glanced at Horitake on his left, then at Shinobu on his right. He pointed a finger at the bottle, seeking one last confirmation. "You're certain it's safe?"
Shinobu's smile widened, her voice projecting a soothing sense of security. "Rest assured, Master. Whether this batch is a total success or a partial one, its ingredients can only benefit the human body. There are no negative side effects."
Kagaya sighed. He trusted his subordinates deeply. There was no point in hesitating any longer. If he was to be a test subject, he might as well get it over with.
He picked up the glass bottle, unscrewed the cap, and with a look of grim determination, downed the entire thing in one go.
Horitake and Shinobu watched him with bated breath, their eyes wide with anticipation.
Once the bottle was empty, Kagaya let out a long, heavy breath. He set the bottle back on the table, his face contorting in a way rarely seen on the usually elegant and composed Master. He looked like he had just swallowed something truly offensive.
Curiosity got the better of Horitake. "Master, how did it taste?"
Kagaya's expression remained strained. "The flavor is... difficult to describe in words. To put it simply, it was not pleasant."
"Well, that makes sense," Horitake chirped. "Medicine isn't supposed to taste good. But Master, how do you feel? Is there any reaction? Do you feel a sudden surge of energy? Does it feel like your health is being restored?"
Shinobu leaned in as well, both of them staring at Kagaya with intense expectation. At this moment, they weren't just looking at their leader; they were looking at a rare and precious laboratory specimen.
Kagaya frowned, sitting perfectly still as if savoring the aftertaste or checking the internal state of his body.
After a long silence, he looked even more perplexed. "I don't... I don't really feel anything. There's no sudden burst of vitality, nor do I feel like my illness has vanished. It's just... just..."
He trailed off, and Shinobu asked impatiently, "Just what?"
"It's just that I feel... rather sleepy."
As soon as the word "sleepy" left his lips, Kagaya's eyes fluttered shut. His body tilted backward, and with a soft thud, he collapsed onto the tatami mat, losing consciousness instantly.
Horitake and Shinobu turned pale with fright. They scrambled toward him to check his condition.
Kagaya was the head of the Demon Slayer Corps; if anything happened to him, the entire organization would crumble. If he died or suffered permanent damage because of a potion they had brewed... Horitake and Shinobu would never be able to atone for it. They'd probably spend the rest of their lives as a tragic couple on the run from the law!
Shinobu hurriedly performed a quick medical examination. "Respiration is normal! Heart rate is steady! Temperature is fine! All vital signs are perfectly within the normal range!"
Looking at the motionless Kagaya, Horitake asked tentatively, "Is the Master... just sleeping?"
Shinobu nodded, confirming his suspicion. "Yes. He really is just asleep. And it seems to be a very deep slumber."
The two of them looked at each other, stunned into silence.
They sat down beside the snoring Kagaya, staring at him in utter bewilderment, as if they had just encountered the greatest mystery in the world.
"Shinobu-san... passing out immediately after drinking it? Is that a side effect?"
"I'm not sure," she whispered. "The recipe didn't mention anything about the Life Supplement Potion having such a strange side effect."
"Could you have made a mistake during the brewing process? Maybe some ingredient reacted poorly and created this sedative effect?"
"That's impossible," Shinobu retorted, her professional pride flaring. "I followed the procedure to the letter. Do you have any idea how important this potion is? I wouldn't dream of being careless. After so many failures, I only brought this batch to the Master because I was certain it was perfect. I wouldn't have let him touch it otherwise!"
"I believe you," Horitake sighed, looking down at their boss. "But then how do you explain the Master being out cold like this?"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 30 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[pat*eon*com/DaoistRoeoNQ]
Thank you so much for your support!!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"